It's Not One Thing. It's Another

Hi- remember me? I have been so busy here doing nothing of value, that I haven't had time to blog. I occasionally flip into someone's comments section to let the world know I am here, but communications are few and far between these days. And I have pictures to show for it. Can't show my shopping booty for gifts yet, but trust me, it's nothing to write home about.

First of all, there was a visit from the Sand Hill Gang the other day. This is a mother and two 'chicks' who seem to have outgrown the need for mothering. When I approached, and you can see how close I got before disturbing them into a lot of wing flapping and honking, they turned their backs on me and just kept foraging for whatever it is that they forage for. I know they are hell on digging up a golf course so everyone is glad to see them in my yard instead. They are about 5' tall and absolutely unafraid of us human beans with fluffy dogs in tow. Molly wanted to eat them alive, much better prey than a squirrel.


Next is the Cooking Thang. Without much cooking actually. I found a little basketball sized watermelon and brought it home and decided to NOT eat watermelon. Instead I peeled it and made watermelon pickles from the rind which I remember from my childhood. Some old relative would have them in a pointy cut glass pickle dish (does anyone still use pickle dishes?) and I would steal them and gobble them down at every chance. I think they are a very old-fashioned thing from my farm-wife ancestors who wouldn't waste a scrap. But thanks to the internet the recipe lives on and every time I walk by the refrigerator I grab a slice. Then, of course I am left with the pink flesh. I actually tasted it and it was pretty bland (yes, it was a local watermelon but being local makes them taste bad!), so I stuck it into the Cuisinart and made watermelon juice because I had seen someone make watermelon martinis once- I don't even drink martinis, but the juice, once knocked up a bit by some lime juice and a little simple syrup, was delicious. So after the pickles, I have the juice and isn't it a pretty color?. It exactly matches these ceramic cups I got at Anthropologie last year. Who knew I had Watermelon Juice Cups? Life is good.


While we are in the food department here, let me tell you about my two latest fabulous recipe finds. Everyone who eats here is getting these until I run through my friend list and have to find new material. First is the best chicken---

Grilled Chicken with Herbs:
Start your charcoal, let it burn down to ash!
4 boneless chicken breasts with skin (I always have to bone them myself because boneless are sold without the skins) salt and pepper both sides to taste
Grill over medium coals for 10 minutes on the skin side, then 6-8 minutes on the back side. Check to see they are done
through. They will be black and crusty. As they are taken off the grill, roll them in a shallow pan with:
1/4 c. olive oil
salt and cracked pepper
8 Tbs lemon juice (2 big lemons)
1/3 c. mixed fresh herbs (I use oregano, parsley, thyme, and chives)
Serve.

And finally, a Martha book came through the other day with a dessert that I happened to have all the ingredients for so I tried it and it joins the favorite stand-bys list from now on.

Buttermilk Panna Cotta
measure 1 c. buttermilk into small bowl and add
1 envelope gelatin to soften- about 5 minutes
heat together until dissolved:
1/2 c. sugar
3/4 c. heavy cream
Add 1 cup buttermilk and bring to a simmer, take off heat.
Slowly add in the buttermilk/ gelatin mixture and whisk until gelatin is entirely dissolved.
Divide among 6 half-cup ramekins or small bowls, put cups into a shallow pan, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 4 hours until set (or overnight). Remove from ramekins and put on plate (reun sharp knife around edges, wucik dip the bottom in hot water and invert to plate) surrounded with fresh berries. If you're feeling real fancy you can flop a bit of whipped cream, or raspberry puree on top. I actually don't remove them from the cups, just put the berries on top- much easier to skip the fussy work.

I've been working on a baby quilt that I started several years ago and set aside so as not to jinx anything by jumping the baby guns. This is a mish-mash of lots of 30's images I've collected for years, leftover scraps from other quilts, dishtowels and Japanese balls. I have found a dark polka dot backing so it can be used as a floor quilt for Baby Snooks when she is rolling around with the dogs. So now I have to layer it and quilt it so it will be ready when the moment arrives! I am thinking I will quilt it in spirals and hope the new BSR will agree. I ordered a new table inset the other day, maybe it will arrive and make this a whole bunch easier. Lettuce prey.


And I think these two shots are the final-final version of the new living room/ dining room. We decided we hate the lamp over the table and are going to try to exchange it and get something sleeker and less baronial. And ignore the ugly couch.



I am posting these for my family who are too busy to come down and see it themselves. Actually they are pretty much too busy to check the blog too, hence the baby quilt progress is going on in complete secrecy- hidden in plain sight.



UPDATE: the quit is layered and as I was pinning it up on the wall, the quilt shop calledf to tell me the table insert had arrived! Looks like I am again 'In Biznuz'! I am the luckiest woman in Palm Beach county. I always said that things arrive for you when you need them most.